In an interview with Insights Success, Lisa Pickell, President of Orren Pickell Building Group, shares her insights and experiences over products and motto of the organization, along with the organization’s future goals in revolutionizing the design and construction industry.
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between Lisa and Insights Success:
Give a brief overview of the company, its solutions and its services.
Orren Pickell Building Group is a design/build firm most often associated with luxury custom homes throughout Chicago, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Whether it’s a new home or a renovation, we strive to create a unique living environment that perfectly suits each homeowner’s individual needs and preferences. In addition to superior quality, we are committed to offering an exceptional experience as our clients bring their dream homes to life. Many of our innovations are around enhancing communication and transparency throughout these processes.
How do you deliver construction tech solutions to benefit your customers?
Early in our 40-year history, Orren Pickell Building Group recognized the importance of improving the customer experience, and we saw how technology could play a part in that. Our proprietary online project management site, MyHomePortal™, was the first in the industry to allow clients to track design and construction progress with incredible detail. Clients can review specifications, renderings, material selections and more. They love being able to download progress photos to share with family and friends. In addition, MyHomePortal provides access to contracts, change orders and approvals, and allow clients to communicate directly with project managers to keep their schedules moving forward.
There are other ways that we enhance the experience through technology. We use a laser room scanner to create precise 3D renderings of spaces, and have found that a 65 inches touch screen can be essential for clarity in meetings. Clients can draw right on their blueprints to communicate what they’re thinking.
Give a detailed explanation regarding the founder/CEO/management’s influence toward the industry and the company.
Before being named president of the Orren Pickell Building Group in 2017, Lisa Pickell was the driving force behind the company’s commitment to advancing the construction industry’s use of technology, mentoring the next generation of skilled workers and opening doors for women in construction.
Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learned that have shaped the journey of the company.
Since Orren Pickell founded the firm 40 years ago, we’ve had a great history. We began as a humble home painting business and now our name is synonymous with superior quality. That’s a lot of pressure, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished as a family business. Now with the second generation taking the reins, we embrace the same values the same commitment to exceptional quality and service that built our reputation in the first place.
How does the company contribute toward making the industry better?
We believe that the next big challenge for the design and construction industry will be a shrinking qualified workforce. To help address this need, the Orren Pickell Building Group is making a concerted effort to educate and nurture the next generation of craftspeople. In addition, we are longtime champions of advancing women’s roles in the industry.
Our president and members of our leadership team sit on advisory councils at local high schools to help prepare students for internships and permanent positions in the construction industry, introduce new construction technologies, and meet with industry leaders to coordinate opportunities. In addition, we’re getting involved with ‘Revolution Workshop’, an exciting social enterprise that teaches unemployed and underemployed people new skills, and the ‘Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Girls Build!’ program.
Where does Orren Pickell Building Group see itself in the long run and what are its future goals?
Ultimately, we want our products and our company to endure for generations. To that end, we know that we need to continue to advance the industry and the next generation of construction professionals, and ensure that every project and client interaction goes well beyond what is expected.
Considering the rising number of construction tech solution providers, how does Orren Pickell Building Group stand out from its competitors?
Orren Pickell Building Group made a decision few years ago to remain ahead of the curve in terms of technology to support our customers. Right now, our portal sets the standard for providing comprehensive information and easy access to team members. In addition, it is mobile optimized to keep up with our busy clientele.
Give us a few testimonials from your clients that accurately highlight Orren Pickell Building Group’s position in the market.
“Our home is more than our family could have ever dreamed of. Each time I pull into the driveway, I have to catch my breath and as I think of how fortunate we were to choose the best designer and builder in the country.” “We toured custom homes for years. Every home we really liked was a ‘Pickell’ home. We could have built a home with anyone, but we could have only built this home with Pickell. They do quality work and were a pleasure to work with.”
URL: www.pickellbuilders.com
Source: The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers, 2018
